WASHINGTON -- Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, was elected Thursday to be the next chairman of the House's Republican conservative caucus. The victory is especially impressive because a majority of the Republican Study Committee's members ignored the recommendation of the group's founders and former chairman, all of whom backed Scalise's opponent Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., for the post.

There was no vote count made available, but 164 committee members cast ballots and Scalise needed a majority, or at least 83 votes, to win.

The committee is likely to play a major role in determining whether House Speaker John Boehner can reach a spending deal with President Barack Obama needed to avert sequestration -- large cuts in defense spending, domestic programs, and cancellation of the Bush tax cuts. That would happen if there's no deal in place by the end of the year.

The president has said he wants the Bush tax cuts to continue for low-income and middle-class taxpayers, but to end for families earning $250,000 or more. Boehner has said he wants the Bush tax cuts preserved, but expressed a willingness to consider higher revenues from wealthy taxpayers under a tax reform package that would eliminate many tax breaks while lowering overall rates.

Many members of the Republican Study committee, including Scalise, have expressed opposition to any increase in taxes.

After the vote, Scalise said in a statement that the Study Committee "is the conservative conscience of the House and I'm humbled and honored to be chosen" as its leader for the 113th Congress, which begins in January.

In the statement, Scalise took a fairly hard line on deficit negotiations.

"The American people chose the Republican House to serve as the only line of defense against Barack Obama's liberal agenda and the RSC must stand tall as the conservative rudder, steering the House towards more conservative solutions as we work to get our country back on the right track."